Renewed calls for tighter gun regulations are being made nationwide and in Missouri since this week’s Florida school shooting. Seventeen people were killed in the Broward County massacre and the 19-year-old gunman is behind bars. State Senator Gary Romine, R-Farmington, tells Missouri affiliate KREI in Farmington that gun control is not the answer to solve the continued problem with mass shootings.

Missouri State Senator says gun control is not the answer to solve continued mass shootings

“We need to focus on the real problem. We get so caught up in gun control about this being the issue and not really focusing on the real problem. That’s my biggest concern,” says Romine. “Let’s get serious about what is the problem and focus on it, rather than just automatically going to gun control and getting distracted and getting caught up in that debate and not really dealing with mental issues.”

Romine’s comments are similar to the tone used by other Republicans.

“We’ve got to find a balance between actually being honest with ourselves if we have a mental health issue with an individual and it doesn’t become such a stigma that we’re afraid to diagnose it,” says Romine. “Some way somehow, we cannot be afraid to approach and deal with individuals if they have a problem and we’ve got to be able to do it in a way that’s not detrimental.”

During a speech Thursday to address the deadly shooting, President Donald Trump, R, focused on the mental health of shooters. He said Americans must work together to create a culture that “embraces the dignity of life, that creates deep and meaningful connections, and that turns classmates and colleagues into friends and neighbors.”

Supporters of stronger gun laws say Americans do not need access to assault rifles, like the one used in this week’s massacre and many other previous ones. Mark Bogen, the vice mayor of Florida’s Broward County, says that Trump’s expected visit today with the victims of the Parkland school shooting is “absolutely absurd.”

“So President Trump now, based on his actions, allows mentally ill people to purchase guns when over a year ago they could not,” Bogen says at a press conference today.

He says Trump is a hypocrite because the president supports the purchasing of assault weapons, “and then comes down here and wants to act as though this is horrible.”

Luke Turnbough of Missourinet affiliate KREI in Farmington contributed to this story.

Legislation to designate a portion of a highway for a fallen St. Louis County police officer has been filed by a Missouri lawmaker.

State Rep. Doug Beck speaks on the Missouri House floor in January 2017 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

The Missouri House Transportation Committee has scheduled a public hearing for Wednesday morning at 8 in Jefferson City on a bill from State Rep. Doug Beck, D-St. Louis County, to designate a portion of Highway 30 in St. Louis County as the “Blake Snyder Memorial Highway.”

Officer Snyder was shot in the face and killed in the line of duty in Green Park in October 2016, while responding to a disturbance.

If lawmakers approve Beck’s bill and it’s signed by Governor Eric Greitens (R), the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) would maintain the highway signs, with the costs paid by private donations.

St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert McCulloch has charged 19-year-old Trenton Forster with first degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action and assault on a law enforcement officer.

Missouri lawmakers are looking at a measure to declare youth violence a public health epidemic. The proposal from Representative Bruce Franks Jr. also calls on the General Assembly to support the establishment of statewide trauma education.

The St. Louis Democrat’s legislation cites multiple experts, organizations and government agencies that study the issue and offer recommendations.

For example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says 1.56 million U.S. adults have been the victims of violence carried out by individuals between 12 and 20 years old. Two Surgeon Generals, C. Everett Koop in 1985 and David Satcher in 2000, have declared youth violence as a public health epidemic.

Franks says society has failed to address the problem that troubles many less affluent communities.

“We haven’t truly identified youth violence for what it’s for,” said Franks. “And that is a public health epidemic, especially when we talk about economically distressed communities, communities with a lack of resources, no matter what their community looks like. And we’re talking about violence as a whole, not just murder.”

The measure notes the peak years for violent youth offenses are between the ages 15 and 18 when students are in high school. It cites a 2000 surgeon general’s report that calls for violent youth to be placed into intervention programs rather than incarceration.

At a committee hearing, Franks said there’s a personal reason why his bill also has a provision to designate June 7th of every year as “Christopher Harris Day”. “In 1991 Christopher Harris, my brother was killed at nine-years-old while outside playing,” Franks said.

Christopher Harris died while playing in front of his house when a drug dealer used him as a human shield in a gunfight with a rival.

In addition, the measure’s text also states that youth suffer from trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from violence in their community or against a loved one. Sara Baker, the legislative and policy director for the ACLU of Missouri, told the committee that the education system has failed to accommodate students afflicted with trauma.

“We recognize that when you have a student who comes to school who has experienced violence in their home community, they’re not ready to learn,” said Baker. “They’re not a whole person. And we don’t have schools or systems that are equipped to deal with those individuals when they’re coming into a school setting. And we don’t have the resources available to those students.”

The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union), which endorsed the measure, was the only organization or individual to speak at the hearing.

The legislation proposed by Franks is known as a concurrent resolution, which requires the approval of both the state House and Senate. Such proposals generally urge action on the part of a legislative body. Franks resolution includes language for it to be sent to the Governor for his approval or rejection.

Democratic Senator Jamilah Nasheed announced Thursday on the Senate floor that she was filing a companion resolution in the Senate at the urging of Franks. Nasheed also referenced Wednesday’s mass shooting at a Florida high school when she said gun violence is a health epidemic.

This weed-killer can spread to non-resistant crops, and has impacted more than 300,000 acres of Missouri farmland.

MDA budget and planning director Robin Perso testified this week before the Missouri House Budget Committee in Jefferson City. Perso testifies the number of investigators needs to be expanded.

“We get about 80 of those (dicamba) complaints per year,” Perso says. “The last two years we’ve had an uptick. In fiscal year ’16 running into ’17 just in the season, spring season, we received 130 complaints of dicamba misuse, primarily in the Bootheel.”

Perso says that number increased to 315 complaints in 2017.

He testifies MDA currently has eight field staff to handle four years of work in one year.

Although Perso isn’t sure on an exact number needed, he testifies that if there were another six or seven investigators, it would make a big difference.

Springfield’s 911 call center can now receive emergency texts from people who can’t call in for help. Director Zim Schwartze says she still wants people to call 911, but for those who can’t speak or hear, this is another option.

Emergency text messaging is offered in 16 of Missouri’s counties. Springfield-Greene County 911 Emergency Communications Department has formally implemented “Text-to-911” capabilities for rare cases when people are unable to communicate audibly via telephone.

“It was important to prepare and bring this capability to our area to add another way to contact 911, especially for the speech and hearing-impaired community,” says Zim Schwartze, director. “When a response is needed from police, fire, or emergency medical ambulance personnel, you can now text ‘911’ and your message will be delivered into our phone system. We will be able to text a response and determine what assistance you need.”

Schwartze, who’s the former Columbia 911 center director, says that voice 911 calls are still the preferred method of receiving emergency calls so the telecommunicator can talk with the person. The slogan “Call if you can, text if you can’t” is exactly what Schwartze wants the community to remember. Other tips include knowing your location, being brief, using plain language, and avoid abbreviations so the telecommunicator clearly understands what is occurring.

Nearly 22,000 emergency calls come into the Springfield-Greene County 911 Emergency Communications Department monthly, with 82% originating from mobile devices. Nationwide, the number of wireless devices being used has increased dramatically. In turn, the percentage of wireless 911 calls has increased steadily, up from 58% a decade ago in the Greene County area. Recognizing this increasing number of wireless calls led the department to implement “Text-to-911” capabilities for the area.

In 2017, the 911 Telecommunicators in the Operations Center fielded 501,692 total phone calls (emergency and non-emergency) with just over half as 911 emergency calls.

To date, Missouri is the only state that does not collect any fees or tax money from wireless usage to help fund 911 dispatch centers. Several state 911 organizations continue to work towards a goal of passing statewide legislation regarding wireless funding. This legislation hopes to help many dispatch centers who struggle with appropriate funding for 911 services and assist the 16 counties that do not have any 911 call-taking equipment in place.

State Rep. Gina Mitten, D-St. Louis, speaks on the Missouri House floor in March 2017 (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Wednesday’s deadly shooting at a Florida high school has reignited outrage from Americans and Missourians who want tighter gun regulations. Seventeen people were killed in the massacre. The 19-year-old shooter is in custody.

State Rep. Gina Mitten, a Democrat, lives in St. Louis. According to FBI crime statistics, St. Louis is considered the most dangerous city in America.

“We’re experiencing these shootings but let’s not forget the fact that Missourians kill Missourians with guns regularly,” Mitten tells the Capitol press corps today. “This is not just an issue of school shootings. This is an issue of gun violence that takes place across our country every single day and it needs to be addressed here as well as nationally.”

Mitten goes on to say if gun violence was a cancer, the legislature would be talking about it.

“Lawmakers are sticking their heads in the sand,” she says.

During a speech today to address the deadly shooting, President Donald Trump, R, focused on the mental health of shooters – not the weapons they use. He said Americans must work together to create a culture that “embraces the dignity of life, that creates deep and meaningful connections, and that turns classmates and colleagues into friends and neighbors.”

So many signs that the Florida shooter was mentally disturbed, even expelled from school for bad and erratic behavior. Neighbors and classmates knew he was a big problem. Must always report such instances to authorities, again and again!

An officer-involved shooting in west-central Missouri’s Raymore has reportedly claimed the life today of a man who pointed a gun at law enforcement officials. The Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Belton Police Department chased a red Ford Explorer last night in response to a report of a shooting. Troopers deployed a tire deflation device – prompting the unidentified suspect to reportedly flee from the vehicle with a gun.

Authorities say he pointed the weapon at his own head, at passing vehicles and fired at a motorist. He then forced another motorist out of a car and fled in it.

Several officers followed the suspect into a neighborhood. Several news reports say the man pointed a gun at his own head and at officers – sparking troopers to fire and hit the suspect. The shooter was taken to a Kansas City hospital where he later died.

The Highway Patrol says no citizens or law enforcement officers were injured in the incident.

Investigators have stopped by the Capitol offices in Jefferson City of at least two legislators to reportedly question them about Governor Eric Greitens. State Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City, tells Missourinet two investigators visited her office on Tuesday while she was out for a meeting. She goes on to say she’s not sure why they would be questioning her about the governor’s personal matters.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that investigators also talked with State Rep. Nate Walker, R-Kirksville. He told the newspaper the questions went beyond the scope of the governor’s infidelity.

Last month, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner launched an investigation about a claim that Greitens, a Republican, took a non-consensual photo of his half-nude mistress while in his St. Louis home in 2015. The woman said the governor threatened to release the picture if she told anyone about their extramarital activities.

Gardner’s spokeswoman, Susan Ryan, confirms to Missourinet that Jack Foley and William Tisaby are among the investigators working the case.

Greitens has admitted to having an affair before he became governor but maintains that he did not blackmail his mistress. Last week, the governor told reporters he has not been contacted by authorities.

The Missouri Supreme Court has unanimously upheld a lower court decision imposing fines and penalties on former state Senator Robin-Wright Jones.

Missouri Supreme Court – Image courtesy of Missouri Courts

The high bench backed up the lower court’s judgment that there were no constitutional violations by the Missouri Ethics Commission for assessing over $200,000 in penalties and fees on Jones. The Supreme Court found the fees to not be excessive or unconstitutional.

An investigation of Jones, a St. Louis Democrat, and her campaign committee was conducted by the Missouri Ethics Commission in 2013. It found eight earlier violations of rules and regulations.

Wright-Jones served in the Senate from 2008-2012 but was defeated in her reelection primary by current office holder Jamilah Nasheed. Her attorney claims the investigation cost her a second term.

The Ethics Commission fined her $270,000 in May of 2013 for various violations, including the use of campaign finance money for personal expenses. Wright-Jones’ disclosure problems began in 2010 and 2011 when she blamed a number of reporting discrepancies on her treasurer, who had fallen ill.

The commission found she and her committee failed to report expenditures and contributions by state deadlines and improperly spent money on personal items such as telephones and clothing. Wright-Jones appealed the Ethics Commission’s decision to the Administrative Hearing Commission, which considers cases involving state agencies and individuals.

The Administrative Commission reduced the fine to just over $229,900, ultimately requiring 10% of that amount, $22,900, to be paid within 90 days. The balance would be suspended as long as there were no more campaign violations within two years.

A review by a circuit court at the request of Wright-Jones affirmed the Administrative Commissions decision, leading to the former Senator’s appeal to the Supreme Court.

Among other things, Wright-Jones argued the Ethics Commission, as an administrative agency, doesn’t have the authority to assess fees or fines.

A search is underway for Jacob Dylan Martin, 22, who walked away this morning shortly after 10 a.m. from a Department of Transportation work release site near southeast Missouri’s Patton. Local law enforcement and Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers are working to apprehend the minimum-security inmate from Potosi Correctional Center.

Martin is described as a white male, 5’10” tall and 164 lb. He has brown hair and blue eyes. Residents are asked to contact local law enforcement or the Missouri State Highway Patrol if they see him.

The Farmington Correctional Center K-9 unit has been dispatched, and the Corrections Emergency Response Team (CERT) has been activated.

Martin is serving a five-year sentence for two counts of first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle, second-degree burglary, and theft/stealing in Franklin County as well as a concurrent three-year sentence for attempted first-degree tampering in Marion County. He has previous convictions for driving while intoxicated, shoplifting and resisting arrest.

This is the second incident in the last few weeks involving a prison inmate fleeing. On January 25, John Long walked away from the South Central Correctional Center in Licking. He was captured earlier this month.